Pietersen fined for Twitter rant

Nottingham - Kevin Pietersen was fined an “undisclosed sum” by the England and Wales Cricket Board on Wednesday following a Twitter attack on former England batsman Nick Knight.

Last week, England batting star Pietersen took to Twitter to question the credentials of Knight, who averaged just 23.96 in 17 Tests with one hundred, as a Test match commentator for Sky Sports.

“Can someone please tell me how Nick Knight has worked his way into the commentary box for the Tests? Ridiculous,” said Pietersen, who has 19 Test hundreds to his credit.

The England and Wales Cricket Board held a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday, with managing director Hugh Morris and team director Andy Flower present, and opted to impose an undisclosed fine on Pietersen, part suspended for 12 months.

An ECB statement said the hearing considered Pietersen's comments “to be prejudicial to the interests of the ECB and a breach of the England player conditions of employment in relation to clauses regarding public statements”.

In January, Sky agreed a new four-year deal to show live international and county cricket believed to be worth at least £260-million - the ECB's main source of income.

Pietersen said on Tuesday that, despite the controversy over his remarks, he would not stop using Twitter.

“No, not at all, no. I won't stop tweeting, no.”

The second Test between England and the West Indies at Trent Bridge starts on Friday with England 1-0 up in the three-match series following a five-wicket win at Lord's concluded on Monday. - Sapa-AFP